“Vespertine” is a term used in biology to describe something ‘evening’, such as a flower that only blooms in the evening or an animal that becomes active at sunset. With her revolutionary VESPERTINE, BJÖRK created the most mysterious, erotic, introverted album of her career in 2001. In this sense, it is the opposite of an opera. But the variety of soundscapes created electronically and acoustically, the sensuality and immediacy of the voice that speaks to us, whispers, implores us, comforts us, confesses - open up a supernatural, epic dimension. This is how the story that makes this album transferable to the stage came about: a biology researcher and her doppelganger are the protagonists of this version of VERSPERTINE. Their laboratory in a snowy Nordic landscape is the shell of experience, memory, longing and listening. Here they deal with the question of the origin of life and become mothers themselves. A magical, mesmerizing spectacle about the human and celestial universe, the earth and nature is created on stage, while Björks music, arranged for an opera orchestra and voices, resounds from the stage in its fullness. The participation of the renowned Kölner Ensemble Musikfabrik makes this pop opera a special musical experience.

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Evening

Schauspielhaus Bad Godesberg

Tamino, a young prince, falls head over heels in love with the picture of the beautiful Pamina, daughter of the Queen of the Night. The Queen promises Tamino Pamina’s hand in marriage if he should succeed in freeing her from the clutches of majestic Sarastro. Tamino sets out with the amusing bird-catcher Papageno on a journey to the land of this mysterious ruler. The magic flute – a present from the Queen – will protect him on his way. The twosome together goes through a series of trials in which they are to maintain a vow of silence, prove themselves resolute and unwavering, and also demonstrate their courage.  While they oppose the forces of darkness, they learn the meaning of wisdom, friendship, and love.

The Magic Flute

Theater Bonn Opera House

The tiger mosquito child is lying in the tiger mosquito crib and has a fever. The child is lying in the next bed and also has a fever. But lying around is super boring, so the mosquito flies off. And then it happens. Child and mosquito meet and... become friends. At first, it's a friendship with obstacles: The mosquito is always better and faster at catching and hiding, but at arm wrestling, it always comes up short. And what on earth does "Wömmps Wösl" actually mean? Together they experience adventures that could only arise from a child's imagination. But how is the child supposed to explain to its mother who its new friend is.

Mosquito has a fever

The sorceress Alcina has everything: power, money, respect. She is loved and feared. She is stunningly beautiful, astute, and highly dangerous. But does all that make her happy? She is in love with Ruggiero and is forced continually to lie to him to keep him by her. Does Alcina know at all true affection, or is her life only illusion and deception?

Alcina

A wedding is one of the most beautiful and most magnificent occasions concocted by mankind. In a traditional culture it is a rite of passage that celebrates the recasting of the woman’s role within the family. Involved are worries about setting up a new household, the sorrow of taking leave of parents and friends, the angst about having a new family and new responsibilities. These situations have been described and dealt with in innumerable folk songs. Inspired by the folk songs and choral music of her Serbian homeland, the Serbian Canadian composer Ana Sokolović wrote in 2011 an opera for six women’s voices that has to do with the preparations for a wedding. The bride – Milica – spends time with her friends and together they dance, play, tell jokes, argue, grow weary, then dance again. What Milica goes through is a kind of universal transformative experience and this opera is a snapshot of this elemental life circumstance. From everyday objects and everyday chatter, the composer conjures up true theater magic. Without orchestral accompaniment – only with a few percussion instruments which the singers themselves play – by virtue of six women’s voices Sokolović weaves a breathtaking tapestry, which sometimes consists of word and sound snippets, sometimes lapses into absurd rhymes, but then also comes up with some catchy agreeable melodies.

Nicole Wacker

Events

Upcoming events

Mar 28 - Jul 11, 2025

The Magic Flute · Theater Bonn

Apr 5 - May 29, 2025

Evening · Theater Bonn

Jun 21 - Jul 9, 2025

Wedding · Theater Bonn

Past events

Apr 5 - May 29, 2025

Evening · Theater Bonn

Mar 28 - Jul 11, 2025

The Magic Flute · Theater Bonn

Future and recently performed repertoire

Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute by Mozart

Theater Bonn

Oberto in Alcina by Handel

Theater Bonn

About

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